I love "counting" on things that I KNOW are coming...
it just adds a little spark to my days.
Thanksgiving Day was beautiful.
Today, the day after Thanksgiving, Just Perfect...
It holds another tradition...
YES, it includes shopping,
BUT that is the SMALL part of it...
what it is really all about is spending time with people I LOVE that I don't see often enough.
Each year, for many years now,
my cousin Angie and I rise bright and early and head out to the stores...
we always sneak in a yummy cocoa for me and coffee for her...
we look,
sometimes we buy,
but it really isn't about the buying ~
that's just a bonus if we find spectacular deals that we just cannot live without!!!
There have been "those years" when we bought so many things we wondered where we could possibly fit in the car afterwards...those are times worth remembering. We laughed about years that we stood in lines outside and then stood in lines inside...our goal was to make sure everyone around us was smiling ~ too many grouchy people out on days like these ~ But not after standing close to us!!!
This year was actually the first year we weren't out hours before the sun started to peek it's sweet head over the mountain tops...we slept in and then left after 11:00...got our cocoa and coffee and we were off ~ it was perfect for this year...maybe NEXT YEAR I will be back up to doing the whole crazy thing again, but this year it felt like a little too much.
I love, love, love my time with Angie...
we are only a month apart in age...
she teases me that I'm OLD!
Whatever!!!
We have memories that started when we were just itty, bitty.
We got into far too much trouble together when we were young and not so smart, our moms were at their wits end because of the two of us!
We've been there for each other through so many things
and now we cherish the times we can get together to share our lives and stay connected...I wish we weren't so busy...but we do great catching up when we do see each other!!!
We laugh
and we talk
and we laugh some more...
and we talk and talk and talk and talk...
We search diligently to find the PERFECT parking spot...
then Angie sings "Hallelujah" when one opens up...
that's when we KNOW we were meant to be out shopping on this glorious day!
Then we meet up with our other cousins and aunts, moms and sisters and now my older daughters for a celebration lunch...
usually Olive Garden for the amazing soup, salad and bread sticks...
this lunch typically lasts for 3 + hours, cause we just cannot get enough of one another ~
there's a lot to catch up on when you only see each other a few times a year.
Well...
once again,
I am SUPER happy with my last two days...
I LOVED my time with people I LOVE...
Found a couple of fantastic deals ~ LOVE it when that happens!!!
Christmas will be sweet and simple around here ~ those are the best kind!
I am looking forward to making some FUN gifts for my kiddos and grand babies and IF i can sneak in enough time, I even have one planned for my hubby.
Looking forward to this next month, as it is also packed with beautiful traditions for our family...
Tomorrow will be The Christmas Light Hanging Day...
Did you know such a day existed???
Yep, it does and I LOVE it!!!
On the 8th ~ off to the MOUNTAINS ~
The perfect Christmas Tree will be waiting for us!!!
So much to look forward to...
the baking
and the bow making
and the decorating
and all our favorite little Christmas movies
and the sledding
and the drives late at night looking at all the Christmas Lights
the parties
and the friends
and the family...
These are all traditions worth counting on...
My shopping this year started late too and there wasn't much shopping involved. I did have a great time with my girl though. This time of year really is the best isn't it:)
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